masticatory

American  

[mas-ti-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈmæs tɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in or for mastication.

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noun

masticatories plural

1. Pharmacology. a medicinal substance to be chewed, as to promote the secretion of saliva.

masticatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈmæstɪkətərɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or adapted to chewing

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noun

1. obsolete a medicinal substance chewed to increase the secretion of saliva

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unmasticatory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• masticatories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of masticatory

From the New Latin word masticātōrius, dating back to 1605–15. See masticate, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

And rotifers also have a specialized masticatory apparatus -- "teeth" -- that the team hypothesized could grind microplastics into smaller particles.

From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2023

The cathode was positioned at the hiatus infraorbitalis, and the anode was inserted into the masticatory muscles.

From Nature • Apr. 4, 2014

I can venture positively to assert that there is no vestige of a mouth, or masticatory organs, or stomach: I did not see any anus, but I will not affirm that such does not exist.

From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles

The mouth lying far back, so that the basal segments of all the prosomatic appendages, excepting those of the 1st pair, are capable of acting as masticatory organs.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

Sometimes cramps in the masticatory muscles have been observed, which explains the grinding of teeth apparent in some instances.

From Valere Aude Dare to Be Healthy, Or, The Light of Physical Regeneration by Dechmann, Louis